Nine questions to ask when buying a home in Spain

A look at what to ask when buying a home in Spain

Things aren’t always clear, especially in a foreign country and language. Often the answer to ‘why didn’t you tell me?’ is ‘you didn’t ask!’ The fact you didn’t know to ask is irrelevant.

These are the nine important questions to ask when investing in property.

1. “Is the Spanish taxman’s value of the property higher than the price I am paying?” If it is, you may receive an additional tax bill, which can be quite a shock if not expected. It’s called ‘La Complementaria’. (A compliment like that one can do without!)
2. “Are there any guarantees regarding treatment of any timbers in the building?” While wood rot is relatively rare in the area, insect attack can be serious and rapid. It mostly affects young, unseasoned wood.
3. “Is the property 50 or more years old?” Properties over 50 years old should have a technical inspection to ensure the structural stability – Inspección Técnica de Edificios, which is required to be renewed every 10 years. “Does the municipality enforce it and is there a certificate of compliance?”
4. “Have you checked that there are no abnormal ground conditions, nor archaeological remains, nor pollution nor asbestos?” All these could affect occupation, development or value of the property.
5. “Have you seen the ‘Fin de Obras’ for the whole building and separately for any later additions and what is the date?” Provided by the architect supervising the construction, confirming compliance with the appropriate building regulations. The guarantee obligations of builders and developers start on that date, NOT the date of the First Occupation Licence, which is granted after, and there can be months or even years of difference be
   tween these two dates.
6. “Is there a First Occupation Licence? We are not going to buy if there isn’t one.”  An absolutely essential question and statement.
7. “Is there a Decennial Structural Insurance policy or was there one for the first 10 years of the building’s life?” These confirm that the construction of the concrete structure was independently supervised and tested. Every developer is obliged to have one for every new building. However, houses or significant extensions constructed for occupation by the owner are not required to have this insurance, but they cannot be sold for 10 years unless a retrospective one is provided. The policy will probably only cover the house structure and not non-loadbearing walls, etc, and not the garage, pool, retaining walls, drives or other works. It is not the equivalent of a UK NHBC policy.
8. “What guarantees and warranties are there for the machines and equipment?” Check the start and expiry dates.
9. “Is the property being sold ‘cuerpo cierto’?” This has the same effect as ‘Sold as Seen’, with no guarantee of sizes or condition and could be used to avoid the ‘Vicios Ocultos’ law, which relates to hidden defects. If a significant defect is discovered within 6 months of purchase, the buyer can claim compensation or oblige the buyer to take back the property and pa
   y back the price. However, it’s one thing having a legal right; it’s another successfully enforcing it! Much better to have the property surveyed before buying and find the evidence of the problem before paying, deducting the cost from the price or even walking away from somebody else’s problem.

If you don’t ask can you be certain that your adviser did?